Your September weather guide
HotWeather in Crete in September
September is a good choice for Crete if you want hot days and a sea that still feels warm enough for swimming. Average afternoon highs reach 28°C, nights average 20°C and the sea is around 25°C. The catch is that this is still hot-weather travel, not reliably mild autumn weather. Rain is possible, but the balance favours time outdoors, with light clothing for the day and a flexible approach to midday plans.
Long-term climate averages for Heraklion, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Crete, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Heraklion.
- Average daytime high
- 28.3°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 33°C
- Average night-time low
- 20.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 18°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +9.7°C
- London averages 18.6°C in September
- Sea temperature
- 24.9°C
- year to year: 24°C to 26°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 10.2h
- 84% of 12.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 3
- 20 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 65%
- Days over 25°C
- 84%
- 31% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 38.2°C
- 2007-09-01
- Record low 1991-2020
- 13.4°C
- 1992-09-28
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 6 min
- 2678 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How September compares
September is the 4th warmest month of the year in Crete and ranks 45th of 134 destinations we compare for September - see where else is hot in September. Within Greece it is 7th of 44 (Greece in September). Against London's average high of 18.6°C in September, Crete is 9.7°C warmer by day and 8.8°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in September
The typical September day in Crete peaks at 28.3°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 33.0°C or more. About 84% of days top 25°C and 1 in 3 pass 30°C. Nights average 20.0°C; one night in ten drops to 17.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest September day here reached 38.2°C (2007-09-01) and the coldest night 13.4°C (1992-09-28).
Rain in September
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 3 days with 1 mm or more, 20 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest September was 2002 with 104 mm, the driest 1991 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 65%.
Sea temperature in September
The sea averages 24.9°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 24.0°C to 25.7°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.9°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 10.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 12.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:02 and sets about 19:27 local time in mid-September. Average cloud cover is 17%.
Is September a good time to visit Crete?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, manageable rain and long sunny days. The best months for Crete on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Expect heat, with some hotter afternoons
Crete in September suits travellers who enjoy proper warmth rather than those looking for cool walking weather. Temperatures reach 25°C on 84% of days, so light, breathable clothes are a sensible starting point. There is a hotter side to the month too: 31% of days reach 30°C, and the warmest days can reach 33°C or more. Put more active plans in the morning and leave room for shade or a break around midday. Evenings are generally warm, though the coolest nights fall to around 18°C or below. A light layer gives you flexibility without making your packing feel geared towards autumn at home.
Plenty of daylight, but allow for rain
With about 10.2 hours of sunshine out of 12.2 hours of daylight, September gives you plenty of scope for outdoor plans without relying on every hour staying clear. Rain falls on about 3 days, so it makes sense to keep plans flexible rather than expect an entirely dry stay. A light waterproof is a practical addition, but rain need not dictate your packing or your decision to go. Keep sun protection and shade in mind even when the temperature feels comfortable. This is a better fit for someone happy to adjust plans to the weather than someone who needs guaranteed sunshine throughout.
A little perspective
Crete through the year
September is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.2°C | 8.2°C | 16.2°C | 3.8 | 73 | 12 | 0% |
| February | 14.8°C | 8.2°C | 15.5°C | 4.6 | 71 | 11 | 0% |
| March | 17.2°C | 9.3°C | 15.6°C | 6.0 | 57 | 9 | 2% |
| April | 20.8°C | 11.8°C | 16.6°C | 7.8 | 38 | 6 | 14% |
| May | 25.3°C | 15.7°C | 19.3°C | 9.9 | 29 | 4 | 51% |
| Junebest | 29.3°C | 19.8°C | 22.8°C | 12.9 | 10 | 2 | 91% |
| Julybest | 30.9°C | 22.2°C | 25.1°C | 13.7 | 3 | 1 | 99% |
| Augustbest | 30.8°C | 22.5°C | 25.9°C | 12.7 | 5 | 1 | 100% |
| SeptemberSelected | 28.3°C | 20.0°C | 24.9°C | 10.2 | 20 | 3 | 84% |
| October | 24.2°C | 16.8°C | 23.0°C | 6.6 | 38 | 6 | 39% |
| November | 19.5°C | 13.1°C | 20.4°C | 4.3 | 50 | 8 | 5% |
| December | 15.6°C | 10.0°C | 18.0°C | 3.5 | 70 | 11 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in September
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Cyprus · 28°C by day · sea 27°C
Paphos
Italy · 28°C by day · sea 25°C
Sicily
Tanzania · 29°C by day · sea 26°C
Zanzibar
Turkey · 30°C by day · sea 26°C
Marmaris
Spain · 27°C by day · sea 23°C
Gran Canaria
A little more detail
Crete in September FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Crete hot in September?
Crete is hot in September: the average daytime high is 28.3°C and nights average 20.0°C. About 84% of September days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Crete in September?
The sea around Crete averages 24.9°C in September, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 24°C to 26°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Crete in September?
Crete sees about 3 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 20 mm of rain in a typical September. The wettest September between 1991 and 2020 was 2002 (104 mm) and the driest was 1991 (0 mm).
How sunny is Crete in September?
Crete gets around 10.2 hours of sunshine a day in September out of 12.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Crete compare with the UK in September?
Crete is on average 9.7°C warmer than London by day in September (28.3°C against 18.6°C).
What is the hottest September on record in Crete?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest September day in Crete reached 38.2°C on 2007-09-01, and the coldest night dropped to 13.4°C on 1992-09-28.
How much warmer is Crete than London in September?
Crete's average daytime high is 28.3°C, compared with 18.6°C in London - a difference of 9.7°C. That is a substantial step up in warmth, so pack for hot afternoons rather than simply bringing your usual September clothes from home.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
Yes. The sea averages 24.9°C in September, with a year-to-year range of 24°C to 26°C. That makes swimming a reasonable focus for the holiday rather than something to squeeze into the hottest afternoons, though comfort in the water is personal.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Irákleion (Heraklion). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.7 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C